WAKASA MONUMENT
The Wakasa Memorial Stone was found partially buried just inside the west fence at the Topaz Incarceration Site in 2020 and presumed to be part of a memorial erected to commemorate the death of James Hatsuaki Wakasa in 1943. After the exact location of the stone was published, the stone was moved to the Topaz Museum in Delta in 2021 to protect it from further degradation and possible vandalism. The stone is currently safe and secure in the Topaz Museum courtyard.
The stone is in a protected temporary shelter that was constructed according to the directions of an expert stone conservator, an architect, and other professionals.
BACKGROUND HISTORY
On April 11, 1943, James Hatsuaki Wakasa was shot and killed by a military sentry as he was walking his dog near the west fence of the Topaz Incarceration Camp. His killing was ruled as “justified” during the soldier’s court martial military trial. Nearly 2,000 Topaz incarcerees attended Mr. Wakasa’s funeral. In June, after two members of the agricultural landscape crew erected a monument in his memory, they were ordered to remove it. In a letter to Dillon S. Myer, Director of the War Relocation Authority, dated June 21, 1943, Topaz Project Director Charles F. Ernst reported, “The monument has been torn down and the rocks which were used in this construction have been completely removed from sight.”
Years later, research at the National Archives uncovered a detailed, hand-drawn map by George Shimamoto, drawn the day after Mr. Wakasa’s death, indicating where he was shot and killed.
In September 2020 an article about the death of Mr. Wakasa, including the map, was published online. Within a few days, two archaeologists traveled to the Topaz Concentration Camp site. They located a rock outcropping at the approximate location specified on the map which led them to believe they had found the Wakasa Memorial Stone. However, the archaeologists failed to notify the Topaz Museum Board of their visit, nor did they ask permission from the Board to conduct research on the private property owned and protected by the Topaz Museum Board.
Soon after the discovery, without the Board’s knowledge, a group began meeting, exploring options and next steps regarding the stone. The Topaz Museum Board was not invited to participate in the discussions until the end of October when three Board members and additional archaeologists were asked to join the group. The Topaz Museum Board cautioned the group about sharing confidential information about the stone’s location for fear of possible vandalism. Looting, vandalism, and the removal of artifacts are ongoing problems at the Topaz Incarceration Site. Traffic at the site and the desert west of the site had increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic.
In July 2021, the archaeologists’ report was published on the Discover Nikkei website, contrary to the Board’s earlier request of not revealing the location of the stone. Although it is general practice to redact sensitive information regarding the location of artifacts when publishing articles for public use, the article revealed the exact location of the monument, pinning it onto Google Earth maps. Given that an outbreak of violent attacks on Asian Americans was occurring across the nation and that the Topaz site had suffered previous incidents of vandalism, on July 27, 2021, in its role as steward, the Board made the decision to protect the monument by relocating it to the Topaz Museum courtyard.
When some of the group objected, the Topaz Museum Board sincerely apologized for relocating the memorial stone without input from the broader community and is fully committed to more inclusion in the future.
FUTURE STEPS
To move forward with appropriate preservation and conservation of the Wakasa Memorial Stone, the Topaz Museum Board’s future plans include:
The promise that the Board will work with Japanese Americans and other stakeholders to determine the best exhibit location for the Wakasa Memorial Stone and will develop a respectful narrative that tells the story of this artifact. Contrary to recurring accusations, the Topaz Museum Board has made NO plans for the exhibition or placement of the stone. A decision will be made only after input from multiple sources, including members of the Japanese American community and stone preservation and conservation professionals.
The Board will be hosting a “listening session” at the upcoming October conference of the Japanese American Confinement Site Consortium held at the Japanese American National Museum to provide another opportunity to hear community ideas and comments about the future of the Wakasa Memorial Stone. Ann Burroughs, CEO of JANM, and Shirley Higuchi, Chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Board, have agreed to serve as moderators for the workshop.
Several months ago, the Topaz Museum Board applied for a Japanese American Confinement Sites grant to assess the current museum space and exhibits. Although the Board did not receive the grant, the plans will go forward with the evaluation, providing a way to hear from the wider community. The project will be conducted by a third-party Japanese American organization from the Bay Area. The Board is now actively looking for funding sources.
In conclusion, the Topaz Museum Board extends an invitation to museum visitors to view the Wakasa Memorial Stone. Upon request, a museum volunteer will open the protective courtyard shelter housing the stone. Out of respect for the deep significance of the stone, no one can touch or walk around it. We recognize what an important historical artifact the stone is and invite everyone to offer input on its final exhibition.
Topaz Community Outreach Project
The Topaz Community Outreach Project’s public outreach project was a national community survey to submit ideas and opinions on the future of the Wakasa Monument and ways to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the killing of James Hatsuaki Wakasa. The Project launched in June 2022 and involved multiple engagement and communication approaches. The primary methods for public engagement were in-person and virtual meetings, and an online survey. Each of these efforts is summarized in the final report which can be downloaded HERE.
In total more than 450 community members participated in one or more project activities.
Photo: Brian Buroker
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WAKASA MONUMENT
The Wakasa Memorial Stone was found partially buried just inside the west fence at the Topaz Incarceration Site in 2020 and presumed to be part of a memorial erected to commemorate the death of James Hatsuaki Wakasa in 1943. After the exact location of the stone was published, the stone was moved to the Topaz Museum in Delta in 2021 to protect it from further degradation and possible vandalism. The stone is currently safe and secure in the Topaz Museum courtyard.
The stone is in a protected temporary shelter that was constructed according to the directions of an expert stone conservator, an architect, and other professionals.
BACKGROUND HISTORY
On April 11, 1943, James Hatsuaki Wakasa was shot and killed by a military sentry as he was walking his dog near the west fence of the Topaz Incarceration Camp. His killing was ruled as “justified” during the soldier’s court martial military trial. Nearly 2,000 Topaz incarcerees attended Mr. Wakasa’s funeral. In June, after two members of the agricultural landscape crew erected a monument in his memory, they were ordered to remove it. In a letter to Dillon S. Myer, Director of the War Relocation Authority, dated June 21, 1943, Topaz Project Director Charles F. Ernst reported, “The monument has been torn down and the rocks which were used in this construction have been completely removed from sight.”
Years later, research at the National Archives uncovered a detailed, hand-drawn map by George Shimamoto, drawn the day after Mr. Wakasa’s death, indicating where he was shot and killed.
In September 2020 an article about the death of Mr. Wakasa, including the map, was published online. Within a few days, two archaeologists traveled to the Topaz Concentration Camp site. They located a rock outcropping at the approximate location specified on the map which led them to believe they had found the Wakasa Memorial Stone. However, the archaeologists failed to notify the Topaz Museum Board of their visit, nor did they ask permission from the Board to conduct research on the private property owned and protected by the Topaz Museum Board.
Soon after the discovery, without the Board’s knowledge, a group began meeting, exploring options and next steps regarding the stone. The Topaz Museum Board was not invited to participate in the discussions until the end of October when three Board members and additional archaeologists were asked to join the group. The Topaz Museum Board cautioned the group about sharing confidential information about the stone’s location for fear of possible vandalism. Looting, vandalism, and the removal of artifacts are ongoing problems at the Topaz Incarceration Site. Traffic at the site and the desert west of the site had increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic.
In July 2021, the archaeologists’ report was published on the Discover Nikkei website, contrary to the Board’s earlier request of not revealing the location of the stone. Although it is general practice to redact sensitive information regarding the location of artifacts when publishing articles for public use, the article revealed the exact location of the monument, pinning it onto Google Earth maps. Given that an outbreak of violent attacks on Asian Americans was occurring across the nation and that the Topaz site had suffered previous incidents of vandalism, on July 27, 2021, in its role as steward, the Board made the decision to protect the monument by relocating it to the Topaz Museum courtyard.
When some of the group objected, the Topaz Museum Board sincerely apologized for relocating the memorial stone without input from the broader community and is fully committed to more inclusion in the future.
FUTURE STEPS
To move forward with appropriate preservation and conservation of the Wakasa Memorial Stone, the Topaz Museum Board’s future plans include:
The promise that the Board will work with Japanese Americans and other stakeholders to determine the best exhibit location for the Wakasa Memorial Stone and will develop a respectful narrative that tells the story of this artifact. Contrary to recurring accusations, the Topaz Museum Board has made NO plans for the exhibition or placement of the stone. A decision will be made only after input from multiple sources, including members of the Japanese American community and stone preservation and conservation professionals.
The Board will be hosting a “listening session” at the upcoming October conference of the Japanese American Confinement Site Consortium held at the Japanese American National Museum to provide another opportunity to hear community ideas and comments about the future of the Wakasa Memorial Stone. Ann Burroughs, CEO of JANM, and Shirley Higuchi, Chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Board, have agreed to serve as moderators for the workshop.
Several months ago, the Topaz Museum Board applied for a Japanese American Confinement Sites grant to assess the current museum space and exhibits. Although the Board did not receive the grant, the plans will go forward with the evaluation, providing a way to hear from the wider community. The project will be conducted by a third-party Japanese American organization from the Bay Area. The Board is now actively looking for funding sources.
In conclusion, the Topaz Museum Board extends an invitation to museum visitors to view the Wakasa Memorial Stone. Upon request, a museum volunteer will open the protective courtyard shelter housing the stone. Out of respect for the deep significance of the stone, no one can touch or walk around it. We recognize what an important historical artifact the stone is and invite everyone to offer input on its final exhibition.
Topaz Community Outreach Project
The Topaz Community Outreach Project’s public outreach project was a national community survey to submit ideas and opinions on the future of the Wakasa Monument and ways to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the killing of James Hatsuaki Wakasa. The Project launched in June 2022 and involved multiple engagement and communication approaches. The primary methods for public engagement were in-person and virtual meetings, and an online survey. Each of these efforts is summarized in the final report which can be downloaded HERE.
In total more than 450 community members participated in one or more project activities.
Photo: Brian Buroker